UBRARY OF CONGRESS VJ • Ow AW" ' v^\*i:i iV*^ >^^X -.WS?*- *'^''^^^ '..^1^/ J-'-'x W' viL 'o.T* A V^-V' .-iq y^ m] '^0^ ;> .^*^°'' «-^' A^"^^. • e 1* .fiC*' A9^ .1 ^':^K:V^* :»:%.^.*^ .^^r <^ ♦'T?r*\o^ O. "o. .» *J ■-^d' , -5^°- ^^^€/-^^tx7t^ LIFE OF GOULD, THE AN EX-MAN-OF-WAR'S-MAN ■WITH INCIDENTS ON SEA AND SHORE, INCLUDING THE THEEE-YEAR S CEUISE OF THE LINE OF BATTLE SHIP OHIO, ON THE MEDITEERANEAN STATION, UNDEE THE VETEEAN H,'^ COMMODORE HULL, / V CLi^REMONT, N. H.: PRINTED BY THE CLAEEMONT MANUFACTURING CO. 18 6 7, the year 1867, Entered acceding to Act of Cong.«.,^i^ BV EOLAND F GOUI.D, , ..e CfU. omceon.eBi.rictCou«o_f-w n.n>ps.te. 3^f I 1 ^. PKEFACE The narrative hereby presented to the public, is offered with little pretension to literary merit, but as a simple record of personal observation and adventure ; and trust- ing to the benevolence and sympathy of his fellow-men, and at the earnest solicitation of his friends, the writer has decided on its publication ; encouraged also by the hope that it may contribute to relieve him from the pecuniary embarrassment under which he now labors, in consequence of being deprived of his sight, a misfortune in which all may sympathize — and which none can fully realize, but those who have experienced the same calamity. One thing the author feels confident of, that the perusal of his work cannot in the least degree injure the mind or morals of the reader, as it is no tale of fiction, and nothing more or less than plain facts, which are well known to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. This may certify that I am personally acquainted with Roland F. Gould, and am particularly acquainted with that portion of his work relative to the cruise of the Ohio, hav- ing been attached to the same ship with him. I would commend him to the public, as one worthy of their confi- dence and sympathy. CHARLES C. HOUGHTON, Preacher in the M. E. Church. Winchester, N. H., June 20th, 1851. We the undersigned, have read " The Life of Roland F. Gould, an Ex-man-of-war's-man," in the manuscript, and hereby certify that we have been much interested therein, and consider it a more than usually interesting and instruct- ive narrative of sea-faring life and life on shore — and we cheerfully recommend Mr. Gould and his book to public patronage. E. M. FORBES, Attorney. W. H. GUERNSEY, P. M. IRA W. RUSSELL, Dentist. H. PEIRCE, M. D. GEORGE W. PEIRCE, M. D. Winchester, N. H., July 2d, 1867. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Birthplace. — Early Adventures 13 CHAPTER II. Visits to the country. — Return to the City. — Destruction of a Convent. 21 CHAPTERS III & IV. • First Cruise at Sea 31 CHAPTER V. Apprenticeship. — Visit to New York. . . .41 CHAPTER VI. Enters the Navy.-r-The Ohio. — Commodore Hull. — Officers attached to the Ohio. — Ship's Crew. . . .45 CHAPTER VII. Passage to New York. — Death of Ezra Carter. — Passage across the Atlantic. — Fatal Accident. . . .53 CHAPTER VIII. Gibraltar. — Africa. — Mahon, 59 » . CHAPTER IX. The American Consul. — Death of Edmund Burke. — Anni- versary of Washington's Birthday. — Death of Henry Brown. — The Cvane. — Rumors of War. . . .71 X COXTEITTS. CHAPTER X. Court Martial. — Passage from Mahon to Lisbon. — The City and its Harbor. — Passage to Marseilles. . . .77 CHAPTER XL The City of Marseilles and its Harbor. — Passage to Leg- horn. — The City and its Harbor. — Visit from the Grand Duchess. — Passage to Naples. — Mount Vesuvius. — Hor- culaneum. — Pompeii. — The Bay and City of Naples. — Malta. — Passage to Athens 85 CHAPTER XII. The City of Athens. — Reception of the King and Queen of Greece. — Vocirla. — General Quarters. — Accident. — Pas- sage to Mahon. — Quarantine. . . . . .93 CHAPTER XIII. Passage to Maderia. — Heavy Storm. — Canary Islands. — Peak of Teneriffe.— Santa Cruz.— The brig True Friends.— Scene of Punishment. — Storms. — Brandywino Frigate. 103 CHAPTER XIV. Death of Commodore Paterson. — Incidents in Mahon. — Theater on Board the Ohio. — Bill of Fare.— Fatal Acci- dent. — Captain Smith. — First Lieutenant. . . 109 CHAPTER XV. Sailing of the Captain and three Lieutenants for the United States. — Corsica. — Elba. — Spezia and its Harbor. — Sum- mer residence of the Governor. — Gould discovers an old Shopmate in the garb of a Priest. — Ball on the Sabbath.— Visit to Genoa. — Visit from the Governor. . .119 CONTENTS. XI CHAPTER XVI. Statue of Columbus. — Incidents on the Passage from Genoa to T^oulon.— The French Fleet.— City of Toulon.— Theater and Ball on board the Ohio. — Palermo. — Visit to Espesia, — Return to Mahon. 127 CHAPTER XVII. Court Martial. — Arrival of the Rambler. — Arrival of Cap- tain Lavallette. — Death of Commodore Chauncey. — Inci- dents on the Passage to Trieste. — Arrival at Trieste.— Visit from the Governor. The Barque Leopard. — Ball on board the Ohio 135 CHAPTER XVIII. Trieste and its Harbor. — Race with the Leopard. — The Isl- and of Patmos. — Arrival at Smyrna. — Visit from the Bashaw. — Complaints of the Leopard's Crew. — Arrival of the Turkish Steam Frigate 143 CHAPTER XIX. The City of Smyrna. — Caravans. — Visit to the Ruins of the Ancient Church. — Return to Mahon. — Quarrel between two Midshipmen. — Return of the First Lieutenant. 153 CHAPTER XX. Court Martial. — Arrival of the Sloop of "War Preble. — In- cidents in Mahon. — Rumor of War. — Sailing of the Squadron. — Commodore Hull's Address to the Crew. — False Alarms. . ' 159 CHAPTER XXI. Desertion of the Brandywine from the Squadron. — Mutin- ous and Discontented Feelings of the Crew. — Another False Alarm. — Arrival at Toulon. — Remarks on the Service 167 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXII. The French Squadron. — Anniversary of the Birth of Louis Philippe. — Boat Race. — Abuses of Seamen. . . 175 CHAPTER XXIII. Death of President Harrison. — Return to Mahon. — Remarks on attending Divine Service. — Called to Quarters at Mid- night. — A Scene on board the Ohio. — A Drunken Mid- shipman, with remarks on the same. . . . 185 CHAPTER XXIV. Homeward Bound. — Remarks on the Death of Richard Burke. — Arrival at Gibraltar. — Crossing the Atlantic. — A Whaling Scene. — Fishing on the Grand Banks. — En- trance into Massachusetts Bay.— Arrival at the President's Roads. — Leaves the Ship. 193 CHAPTER XXV. Visit to friends in Charlestown. — A Procession. — Waits on the Commodore. — An Encounter and the Rescue. . 203 CHAPTER XXVI. Visits to Lowell and Winchester. — Marriage. — Settles in Winchester. — Visit to Worcester. — Terrible Accident. — Conversion. — The Elopement. — Divorce.— Second Mar- riage. — His Residence 211 CHAPTER XXVII. Containing the After-Record of the most Prominent Officers who were connected with the Ohio in her three-years cruise on the Mediterranean Station. . . . 227 LIFE OF GOULD. I was born in the beautiful town of Oharles- town, which is situated at the head of Massa- chusetts Bay, in the State of Massachusetts, and separated from Boston by Charles Eiver. It has been remarked by more than one writer, whose acquaintance with human nature was un- disputed, that the formation of character is much owing to the kind of scenery by which we are surrounded in our early days ; and every day observation tends to establish the truth of this remark. But however this may be, and doubt- less it is the case, there is something still more omnipotent in the early formation of character than this, and that is the sports of child- hood, and the companions who participate in them. 14 LIFE OF AN The future sailor drew his first breath at the foot of Bunker Hill,^ear the navy yard ; and the contiguity of his home to the sea afforded means of constant enterprise and peril, and was a continued temptation to acts of daring and hazardous experiment, which bred a familiarity with danger, which has proved a bane to the happiness of many a father and mother. It is no uncommon thing to see boys, whom we should think scarcely able to manage a boat, in pleas- ant weather scouring the coast for many miles around in the most boisterous seasons, and with as much apparent unconcern as we should feel sitting by our own fireside ; not that accidents have not happened by which many have found a watery grave, but they never operated to intim- idate the survivors. I was bom on the 10th of March, 1817, and was the son of Joseph Gould, of Charlestown, an honest and respectable man, who died April 17th, 1823. At this time I was left to the en- tire care of a pious and worthy mother. At the age of seven, while playing on a wharf near EX-MAN- OF- WAR'S-M AN. 15 Charlestown old bridge, I caitie very near losing my life by drowning. I was playing with a small ship which I had carved out from a block of wood, and rigged with some spars and sails, and was so intent upon sailing it that I lost my bal- ance and fell into the sea. A man by the name of Osgood saw me fall, and arrived in time to rescue me as I was sinking the third time. At the age of eight, while I was attending the town school in Charlestown, I was severely flogged by the writing-master, — the said master having given out that he would severely punish any boy who got a blot on his writing-book. As I was sitting at my desk writmg, a boy who sat in the desk before me, turned around and snapped a pen full of ink on to my writing book. I was so indignant that, under the impulse of the mo- ment, I got up and knocked the boy out of his seat. The master called me out upon the floor, and told me that he had heard that I had sev- eral times said he could liot make me cry, but he would now try. He gave me twenty-fou^ lash- es with a green-hide or cow-hide, but did not 16 LIFE OF AN start a tear. I went directly to my seat, took my hat and books and started for the door. The master told me to come back, but the reply I made was, that I would pay him in his own coin if It was twenty years after, which threat I ac- tually carried out ten years after. My back was so lacerated from my hips to my shoulders that I was unable to lay on my back or sides for more than three weeks. About this time, or shortly after this, my mother moved to Boston, and at the time of the great fire in Beacon street my mother was so afraid I should go that' she took my shoes and stockings away from me, but this could not stop me ; I 'arrived at the fire and rushed into one of the burning buildings to save some small articles, and was rescued by an older brother who belonged to one of the fire com- panies, just in time to escape the falling build- ings. This being 'the year in which Lafayette visited Boston I was determined to see him, but the houses in the vicinity of the street through whiclFhe was to pass were so crowded that I could get no other chance than to go up through ex-man-of-war's-man. 17 the scuttle of the house, and sit on the ridge- pole, near the chimney, by which means I got a fair view of Lafayette, as he passed down Milk Street. While my mother resided in Water Street I went to the Fort Hill school. In the iCear 1826 my mother removed to North Federal Court, a court leading from Hanover Street. While residing there I attended the Hancock school. There were three or four boys of about the same age residing in the same court. I with three of the boys one day went down to the whd,rf which is near the steamboat pier, went on board a schooner, borrowed a boat, and went across to Williams Island, now East Boston. We went upon the Island and were gone two or three hours. Whilst we were absent a man came over from Boston and took the boat, as we had bor- rowed it for only half an hour, and thus left us on the island. We went up to the house, there being only one on the island at the time, and told the man who lived there the circumstances of our being left. He told us that we must stay till morning, and thou he would carry us over ; 18 LIFE OF AN but thinking the man might consider that we had trespassed, and devise some way of punish- ment, I concluded that I would try some way of escape. I went up to the north end of the island and hailed one of the Chelsea ferry boats, which came and took me off and carried me back to Boston. I went and told the parents of the other boys the circumstances, so that they need not be concerned about them. In 1827 I came very near losing my life again. I was playing on the water in South Cove, near South Boston bridge, in company with a large New- foundland dog. I being on a single plank, lost my balance and fell into the water, and being unable to swim at the time^ came very near drowning, but the dog rescued me from a watery grave. At the age of twelve years, returning home from Charlestown, in crossing Charlestown old bridge, I discovered something floating on the water, and immediately obtained a boat which had but one oar, and started to ascertain what it was. It proved to be the body of a girl, about ex-man-of-war's-man. 19 twelve years of age, who some days previously had been drowned while sailing on a pleasure ex- cursion in company with her parents. Being unable to lift the body from the water, or retain it and manage my boat at the same time, as the tide was setting out very fast, I resolutely main- tained my hold upon the lifeless remains of the poor girl, and left myself and boat to the mercy of the waves. I was carried in this situation nearly two miles, when I fortunately fell in with some sailors, who had just put off in a boat frona a schooner, which happened at that moment to be entering the harbor. OHZ^X^TEK. II. In the year 1829, my mother thought it ad- visable to send me into the country with a gen- tleman who was paying attention to my sister. I^ thinking it only for a visit, liked the plan well, and accordingly visited Winchester, N. H., in company with the said gentleman, it being his place of nativity ; but I found it rather a long visit, as the gentleman returned to Boston leaving me at his fathers, where I remained a year. While I was there I enjoyed myself quite well in attending parties, apple-parings, &c., which were quite fashionable in that part of the country at that time. In the year 1830 I returned to Boston. Immediately after my re- turn I went to Roxbury and commenced driving a milk-cart from that place to the city. After remaining there a short time I left, the work be- ing too hard for me, and went to work in Bright- on for my brother-in-law, tending ten-pin-alleys 22 LIFE OF AN at the Cattle Fair Hotel ; but 'I remained at Brighton only a short time. At the expiration of some three or four weeks I returned to Boston to visit my mother, in company with Capt. Eice, a driver from Conway, Mass. In the course of the ride Capt. Kice told me that he knew of a man in Conway who wanted just such a boy as I was, and asked me if I would not like to go. He told me I could hear from home once a fort- night, and if I was discontented I could return at any time. Having obtained my mother's con- sent, I returned with Capt. Rice to Conway, and went to live in the family of Mr. Broaderic. But I did not remain there long, owing to the loneliness of the situation — it being off from the main road, and half a mile from any other dwell- ing. My leaving there was not on account of any dislike to the family, as they were very wor- thy and pious people. I then went to reside with Mr. Thwing, with whom I remained till 1832. I was very pleas- antly situated and probably would have remain- ed there had not my mother sent for me to re- ex-man-of-war' S-MAN. 23 turn to Boston to learn a trade. Those were among the happiest days of my life, a great many pleasant recollections clustered around my stay in Conway ; and never, while surrounded by perils and dangers, could those recollections be obliterated from my memory. On my return to Boston I went to work for Mr. Kobert Burr, No. 3 Hanover Street, saddler and trunk manufac- turer. But I did not like the business and accordingly left and went to learn the carpenter's trade of an older brother in Charles town. My brother and his partner were at that time en- gaged in building the Winthrop meeting-house, and female seminary; but I was shortly thrown out of employment by the failure of my brother, caused by the rascality of his partner. When I was in my sixteenth year, I was pres- ent at the destruction of the nunnery on Mount Benedict, in August, 1832, which place it will be remembered was the scene of considerable ex- citement at that time in connection with Miss Reed and Miss Harrison. Miss Reed I had been formerly acquainted with while she was attend- 24 LIFE OF AN ing the female seminary in Charlestown. While she was at this place, she was prevailed upon by- some of her friends to leave this institution and enter the school attached to the nunnery. Whilst attending the school at the nunnery she one day requested permission of the Lady Superior, to see the ceremony performed of taking the veil; the Lady Superior told her that if she would herself act the part of the nun and repeat the rites and ceremonies appertaining to the same, she would show her there and then. Miss Keed being per- fectly innocent and having no suspicion that by doing this she would be considered a nun, went through with the ceremony; after which the Lady Superior told her that she had taken the veil and could no more have intercourse with the wQrld outside of the nunnery. Her mother, brother and friends several times afterwards call- ed, but were denied an interview, as the Lady Superior told them that she had taken the vows upon her, and wished to have no more inter- course with the world. Shortly after this the City Guards, an independent company from Bos- ex-man-of-war's-man. 25 ton with the Boston Brass Band attached, while passing the nunnery attracted the attention of the inmates; they all, with the exception of Miss Reed, went to the front side of the nun- nery to see the procession as it passed. Miss Reed discovering that the gardener had left the key of the garden gate in the lock, unlocked it and fled across the fields down to the toll-house on the Medford turnpike, kept at that time by a Mr. Kidder, and claimed his protection. Mr. Kidder having some four or five men at work for him, called them in and armed them. By this time the people at the nunnery had discovered Miss Reed's escape and immediately rung the alarm bell, at the same time placing a blood- hound upon her track, which traced her to the before mentioned retreat. The Lady Superior and some others, with threats and persuasions tried to induce her to return to the nunnery with them, but all their threats and persuasions proved unavailing. Mr. Kidder having taken her under his protection, sent immediately for the selectmen of the town of Charlestown, who 26 LIFE OF AN delivered her up to her friends and relatives. Whilst she was confined in the nunnery she learned that there was a Miss Harrison confin- ed there in the same manner that she had been, against her will and wishes. This so exasperated the people of Charlestown, Boston and vicinity, that they determined on some mode of revenge. I will give a description of the destruction of the convent, as witnessed by myself. About nine o'clock in the evening of the third of August there were collected together about two hundred men at the foot of the avenue leading to the nunnery; after holding a counsel of a few min- utes duration they entered the avenue and pro- ceeded to the front door of the nunnery and demanded an interview with Miss Harrison, who, they understood, was detained there against her will. The reply of the Lady Superior was, that she could not and should not be seen. The question was asked, how many armed men there wei;e in the house ? the Lady Superior replied that she had other protection than that of man — • she had the protection of God. One of the men ex-man-of-war's-man. 27 then present told her that she ought to be ashamed of herself to mention the name of God in such a house of prostitution. The interview was then brought to an end by the Lady Supe- rior, who immediately closed and barred the door. The men then retired some few rods from the nunnery to consult upon what measures it would be best to adopt, and while they were thus con- sulting, several pistols were discharged from the garden, which was separated from the avenue by a high fence. They supposed these shots were fired by some of the people belonging to the nunnery, which so exasperated them that they immediately ceased their consultation and com- menced breaking down the fence which separated the garden from the avenue; and afterwards they carried it about twenty rods and piled it up directly in front of the nunnery. By this time as many as five hundred men had collected, and about half past nine o'clock the above fence, to- gether with some three or four tar barrels were set on fire. The alarm of fire was then given by the ringing of the bells in Boston, Charlestown, 28 LIFE OF AN Cambridge, and all the adjoining towns. At tliis time most of tlie men present were disguised as brickmakers. At fifteen minutes before ten the inhabitants of the nunnery were notified that they could have fifteen minutes during which they could leave the premises in safety^ x\t the expiration of that time about ten thous- and people had collected there; and at precisely ten o'clock the nunnery was entered by the riot- ers, who proceeded to collect all the books, light apparel, &c., and set fire to them, and in fifteen minutes from the time the rioters entered the nunnery the flames were bursting from every window in the building. As fast as the engines arrived at the scene of action the firemen took from their caps their badges, and left their en- gines in the road, and mingled with the mob. The selectmen, with a large posse of police, took some of the engines and attempted to play upon the fire, but were immediately driven back by the rioters. While the building was burning, the firemen, numbering from one to two thous- and, seated themselves under some beautiful ex-man-of-war's-man. 29 trees that were directly in front of the nunnery, and sung " Old Hundred." At twelve o'clock the Bishop's study was set on fire, and at this time it was estimated that there were about 100,000 people on the ground. At 4 o'clock the farm-house and out-buildings were fired, which completed the work of de- struction. I will here state that previous to the destruction of the nunnery, the inmates consist- ed of the Lady Superior, six Sisters of Charity, ten or twelve nuns, and sixty or seventy young ladies from different parts of the country who were placed there for the purpose, it was said, of completing their education. It may be well to add that not one female belonging to the nun- nery was abused or insulted in the least, but on the contrary the rioters did all in their power to place them beyond the reach of harm or danger. OH^IPTEE. XII- While I was in Charlestown I formed an ac- quaintance with several girls who worked in a straw factory. As I was escorting one of them home to her mother's one evening, she informed me that she had been grossly insulted the eve- ning previous by a young counter-jumper as she was returning home alone from the factory. After I had left her at her mother's and was re- turning, I met the person who had insulted the lady the evening before and requested an interview the next evening at eight o'clock, at the corner of Main and Back Streets, which was accordingly granted. I was fifteen years of age, and my opponent eighteen. I met him and struck him with a cowhide, upon which my opponent drew a dirk, but I wrenched it from his hand and put it in my bosom, and before I left him gave him a thorough cowhiding in the presence of five or six of his brother store-sweeps. I then told him 32 LIFE OF AN why I had done it. As the young man's father was wealthy and influential, I heard there was quite a stir being made about the matter, there- fore I thought it best to leave for awhile, and ac- cordingly shipped on board a top-sail schooner called the Only Son, belonging to Mitchell, of Charlestown, and commanded by Capt. Pressey. The schooner carried about one hundred and fifty tons and was rather rakish built, after the Baltimore Clipper fashion. She carried a foresail, mainsail, foretop-sail, foretop-gallant- sail, gaff, jib and flying-jib. She sailed the next day, passed through the harbor, had a pretty smooth passage, nothing occurring worth relating till we had got outside the Boston Light. Having had for a few days previous a heavy wind from the N. E. which caused a heavy swell to set in landward, but shortly after passing the light, the wind, lulling away into a dead calm, we drifted near the Cohasset Rocks; but soon the wind veered round to the S. W. which be- ing a fair wind for us, we steered for the British Provinces. After doubling Cape Ann we found ex-man-of-war's-man. 33 that the wind having shifted to a diiferent point of compass formed short seas which made it very rough and disagreeable, and as the schooner scudded rapidly on before the fresh wind, in striking the cross-seas the spray was thrown all over the deck. It being the first time that I had ever been outside of the harbor in such rough weather I was very sea sick, but was treated very kindly by Capt. Pressey, he leaving me in the scuppers where the spray had a fair break over me. After remaining in this situation an hour or two the cook took compassion on me and removed me into the caboose. After getting thoroughly dry I was told my duty, which I per- formed after partaking of a salt junk and boiled potatoes. After a passage of three days the schooner arrived at St. Johns, in New Brunswick. After spending a few days there we returned, passing Blue Hills and Mount Desert, and came to an- chor off the island of Burncoat, near the mouth of the Penobscot Bay. We anchored about a mile from the shore on account of the reefs along that island, as we intended to get a cargo ot paving stones to freight a brig bound for New Orleans. We carried the stone from the shore to the schooner in a flat-bottomed boat called a scow. The gunwale of the scow was usually loaded to within three or four inches of the water, thus requiring a very smooth sea to get them on board. Having nearly completed our cargo, and as I in company with another boy was mov- ing the boat from the shore to the schooner, loaded very heavily, a short sea broke over her and she sunk. My companion asked me if I 36 LIFE OF AN could swim, to which I replied in the negative ; he told me I must try at any rate, I got hold of an oar and struck out for the shore and kept afloat until I got within a hundred feet of the shore, when becoming exhausted I sank, but as I again rose to the surface a heavy sea struck me and sent me upon the beach. My companion having arrived in safety before me, grappled hold of me and prevented me from going back with the receding sea, I being stunned by the shock; after which I was carried on board the schooner which set sail for the harbor about eight miles distant. Arrived safely in the harbor about sun- set of the same day. The island of Burncoat belongs to the State of Maine, and lies half a day's sail N. E. of the Penobscot Bay, and at this time there was but one house on the island, with a store attached owned and kept by a Mr, Fife. The articles in the store consisted of a little tea, a little coffee, some ship's bread, beef, pork, a plenty of new rum and the same quanti- ty of molasses. The harbor was safe and com- modious for a small craft, and large enough to ex-man-of-war's-man. 37 contain two or three hundred fishermen. About nine o'clock the following morning the wind be- gan to blow a gale from the S. E., and before noon had increased to quite a hurricane, at which time we found the little harbor was pretty close- ly stowed with fishermen which had run in to escape the gale. After coming to anchor and furling our sails and getting things snugly stow- ed away, most of us went ashore and entered a large building or barn which had a smooth plank floor with benches around it. At one end there were seats a little above the rest for musicians, which were soon filled with fiddlers from the fish- erman fleet, and after plying them well with "blackstrap" the sport commenced. Some of the expert danced the fisher's hornpipe, after which the whole company joined in the dance, and the way they put down their heavy fisher- man boots and the "blackstrap" was a caution to lazy folks. After remaining in the har- bor about forty-eight hours — the storm having abated — we set sail for Deer Isle, which lies in- side of Penobscot Bay. There we found the 38 LIFE OF AN brig La Grange ready to receive her cargo of paving stone, with which we soon supplied her. I was very much pleased with Deer Isle, it being the birthplace of Capt. Pressey ; and I, being a favorite of the Captain, was received by the younger portion of the inhabitants as a favorite. There were quite a number of parties given while I was on the island, which I attended ; at one of them I was very much interested with one of the girls ; and on waiting upon her home, — her residence being some two or three miles distant, — in crossing the fields we lost our path and wandered about until nearly daylight before we discovered her residence. Although I had a pleasant companion, yet the walk was not quite so pleasant as it might have been had I not been placed in such an awkward position. After remaining there a week we set sail to ob- tain another cargo to carry to Boston; and after obtaining the cargo, which we did with dispatch, we returned to Deer Isle. After remaining there one day we set sail for Boston. As we passed out of the Bay we saw a rakish looking schooner ex-man-of-war's-man. 39 which lay to the east of us, and as she was a very suspicious looking craft, we spoke a vessel which proved to be an American brig bound from Liverpool to Portland. She informed us that as she passed a fleet of fishermen the day before, one of them told her to look out for a pirate which was cruising in that section. The pirate proved to be the schooner Panda which was afterwards taken on the coast of Africa by an English cruiser, as will be recollected by many of our readerSj and was sent to Boston where her crew were executed, with the exception of De Soto who was pardoned. The following night we doubled Cape Ann and put into Gloucester in consequence of stormy head-winds. After coming to anchor and furling sail, I, in company with two more of the crew, went on shore and visited some places of amusement in which one of the crew got into trouble, which caused us to leave rather hastily and return on board. The following morning after heaving our anchor short, and while we were about getting under way, the Portland Revenue Cutter entered the har- 40 LIFE OF AN bor, fired a shot under our bow, hove to, lowered a boat, and Capt. Sturgis boarded us and de- manded to see our papers, which were shown him giving the required satisfaction. The reason of his boarding us was in consequence of informa- tion which he had received respecting the pirate, he mistaking our schooner, the Only Son, for the Panda, owing to the similitude of their build. After giving him the satisfaction he required, we set sail for Boston, where we arrived the same evening. The following morning, having obtained my discharge, I visited my mother, who in conse- quence of my long absence had given me up as lost — she having read of a great number of ship- wrecks along the coast, caused by the S. E. gale spoken of while we were lying in the harbor of Burncoat. The next day I gave an invitation to my mother to ride with me to the neighboring town of West Cambridge, which she accepted. We accordingly visited our friends and returned to Boston by the way of Brighton. In the course of the ride my mother urged me to give up the sea and finish the carpenter's trade which I had commenced previous to going to sea. I accordingly stopped at Brighton and made an engagement with a Mr. Fuller to go the follow- ing Monday and finish my trade with him; this promise I fulfilled, remaining until 1836. At this time I left on account of some, difficulty with an apprentice, and went to work in Boston 42 LIFE OF AN as a journeyman, where I was visited by Mr. Fuller who tried to have me go back to Brighton, but to no effect. While I was an apprentice in Brighton I boarded in the family of my employ- er, Mr. Fuller ; there was mutual satisfaction up to the time of my leaving, the difficulty being only between me and the younger apprentice. After remaining a short time in Boston I went to New York and entered into the employ of Leonard Miller, Maiden Lane ; and after remain- ing in the city a short time my employer sent me, in company with my two brothers, to Ma- maroneck, a town twenty-four miles from the city, and situated on the New York and Boston turnpike, where we were employed in building a country residence for Mr. Parsons, a wholesale merchant of New York. After this I worked for the same employer in New Rochelle, a town adjoining Mamaroneck, where I remained till the fall of 1837, at which time I returned to Boston, and after paying a short visit to my mother, visited my friends in Winchester, N. H., and returned to Boston in the spring of 1838. The following June I entered the naval service of the United States, on board of the Columbus, which was then lying at the navy yard at Charlestown. In July I obtained leave of ab- sence and visited my friends, and after remain- ing two days returned to my duty in the navy and was transferred to the ship Ohio, on the 13th of October. On the following day the broad pennant of Commodore Isaac Hull was hoisted on board of the U. S. ship Ohio while lying at the Charlestown navy yard, and was saluted from the navy yard with thirteen guns. This splendid ship is the most perfect model of naval architecture, and the largest in commis- sion in the American service. She was built in Brooklyn navy yard and is one of the master- pieces of the skill of Eckford, who has since died in the Turkish service. She has one hun- dred and ten guns and carronades. Her guns on the berth-deck, 42-poundcrs ; on main-deck, 46 LIFE OF AN 32 ; on spar-deck, 42 carronades, and she spreads nearly 16,000 yards of canvas, which will cover nearly two acres of land. She is two hundred and eigh'fcy feet long from the heel of her bow- sprit to her taffrail. She is 48 feet beam amid- ship, draws 25 feet of water, and from her water line to the tip of the hammock-nettings is 22 feet. She has four decks, viz : the spar-deck, main-deck, berth-deck, and orlop-deck, below which are the cable-tier and magazines. Her commander is Isaac Hull. This distinguished naval officer, who in the infancy of our navy gained signal and glorious achievements over the boasted mistress of the sea, won for himself im- perishable honors, ^nd caused the stars and stripes of freedom to float in proud triumph upon the ocean, is again upon his native element. At the commencement of the last war he was in command of the Constitution, familiarly known in the service as "Old Ironsides,'' and celebrated as being the first American vessel which broke the spell of British invincibility upon the ocean. Neither was his eye dim, nor his energy abated, ex-man-of-war's-man. 47 although he was in the 66th year of his age. His fine and noble appearance, the firmness of his character, the remembrance of his former victories, all served to inspire in the crew a high regard and veneration towards him. Officers attached to the United States Ship Ohio : Com- mander, Commodore Isaac Hull; Captains, Jo- seph Smith and Kobert Stockton. The remain- ing officers attached to the ship consisted of nine Lieutenants, one fleet Surgeon, four Assist- ant Surgeons, one Chaplain, three Marine Offi- cers, Purser, fourteen passed Midshipmen, ten Midshipmen, Sailing Master, Professor of Math- ematics, Boatswain, Gunner, Carpenter, Sail- maker, Ship's Yeoman, Master's Mate, Master- at-Arms, Captain's Clerk, Purser's Clerk, Com- modore's Secretary, Commodore's Steward, Sur- geon's Steward, Purser's Steward, six Boat- swain's Mates, three Carpenter's Mates, two Gun- ner's Mates, two Sail Maker's Mates, Captain of the Hold, two Captains of the Forecastle, two of the Fore, two of the Main, and two of the Mizzen-Tops, four Quarter-Masters, four Quar- 48 LIFE OF AN ter-Gunners, Captain of the Waist, and Ship's Cook. The ship's crew consisted of nearly 800 men, many of whom were veterans who had served their country faithfully, through good and through evil report. Many of them have stood in the front ranks of our naval victories — inured to perils, hardships, and dangers. From their youth their character is generally hardy, robust and brave, and there never was a ship which had a crew of better looking or more active men, or more spirited in the discharge of their respective duties. There were nearly sixty apprentice boys on board, and they were certainly much distin- guished for their activity ^n learning seaman- ship, — no less so for their diligence in their studies, as they had a good school with able teachers in which all the branches of the English language were taught, and all necessary indul- gence granted them. It is the policy as well as the interest of our government, to foster and nourish this system. To the praise of Secretary Paulding, then the vigilant head of the Navy ex-man-of-war's-man. 49 Department, he had let nothing pass, but had flsed all his exertions to promote their interest and welfare. But would it not infuse life into the system, give more inducements to them to pursue a course of industry and attention, to give them Midshipmen's warrants instead of bestowing them on those who have rolled in the lap of wealth and dissipation ? Many of the boys had good education and were distinguished for industry and correct general deportment. The ship's company was divided into nine di- visions, — namely, the first, second, and third, being stationed on the berth or lower gun-deck; fourth, fifth and sixth on the main-deck; seventh and eight on the spar-deck, and the ninth on the orlop-deck. I was stationed in the sixth divis- ion on the main-deck, under the sixth lieuten- ant, and was first shot and wadsman to No. 30 gun, also first boarder in action. I also belonged to the carpenter's gang, which stations I occu- pied during the whole cruise. The Marine Com- pany consisted of fifty-six well disciplined and efficient men under their respective officers, 50 LIFE OF AN which constituted the Watch Guard, and when in full dress uniform they presented a handson* and martial appearance. Their uniform and arms were kept continually in fine order, and the company was under a high state of military discipline. They had a fine hand of music at- tached to the ship, most of whom were Italians — about twenty in number, — and their perform- ances served to pass off many idle hours with pleasure and amusement. EX-MAN-OF-WAIi'S-MAN. 51 THE SAILOR-BOY. BY A NAVAL OFFICER. The sailor-boy rocks in his canvas nest, The harder it blows, the sounder he rests ; What vision bends o'er him? 'tis his mother in tears, "Whose fond words at parting, in fancy he hears ; Tho' the deck fore and aft is swept by the foam. The sailor-boy slumbers, and dreams of his home. That home far away fond memory brings Still fresh to his heart, on her rapid wings ; 'Tis the bright star of hope, whose light never dies — 'Tis the one streak of blue in his cloudy skies ; Whate'er be his fate, in what clime he may roam, Those thoughts are the sweetest that turn to his home. The waves swell to mountains, and loud howls the gale ! Hark ! the shrill whistle, — " all hands shorten sail !" On the top-sail yard-arm he is rocked to and fro, Whilst a fathomless grave yearns open below ! But though the mast bend to the feathery foam, The danger he recks not, but sings of his home. The foe heaves in sight, and glory alone Absorbs every thought — none other he'll own, Tho' death hovers round him, he's true to his gun — His flag is triumphant — the victory's won ! For his loved native land, the seas he'll still roam, And in fighting her battles, ho fights for his home. On the 16 th at sunrise, all hands were called to get under way and make sail, which order was immediately obeyed. The wharves of the city were crowded with the inhabitants who had come to take a view of their gallant ship, as she sailed in majesty out of the harbor. Having a 'fresh and fair breeze of wind, in a few minutes the city of Boston, celebrated for its sterling patriotism in our Kevolutionary struggle, and its present commercial prosperity, was soon out of sight. We had a passage of six days, the weath- er generally pleasant and fair, and arrived on the 22d and moored ship close to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. We there took on board our guns, stores of all descriptions for the cruise, and 60,000 lbs. of gunpowder. We were visited by the Secretary of the Navy, the Mayor of the city, and the Navy Commissioners. The Washington, Franklin , and North Carolina, three line of battle ships, were laid up in ordinary at that time 54 LIFE OF AN at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. While lying at this yard, a number of my shipmates deserted and tried to have me desert with them, but could not prevail upon me to do so. On the second of December, Ezra Carter died in the sick bay, which is situated in the forward part, in the lower gun-deck, there being a bulk-head built across from larboard to starboard side, setting off a portion of this deck, as a hospital, called a sick bay. December 4th all hands were called at sunrise to make sail ; the steamboats Hercules and Samson on each side, with the U. S. frigate Fulton ahead, towed us out, which made a grand and imposing appearance. We passed a brig wrecked on Sandy Hook and came to anchor at the Horse Shoe, at which place we remained until the 6th, waiting for the chaplain, carpen- ter, gunner and purser, who were detained on shore and went out in a steam-frigate, at which time we set sail for the far-famed Mediterranean station. A thousand reflections crowded upon my mind in leaving the harbor of New York, the great emporium of the Union, a city which a ex-man-of-war's-man. 55 few years ago was eclipsed by more than fifty in Europe — while there are now but six in advance of it, which speaks volumes for the enterprising spirit of that great metropolis. We had a fair but very heavy wind, but nothing worthy of notice happened until the 20th, when James Morse, of Koxbury, Mass., while reefing top- sails fell from the maintop-sail-yard to the deck, which killed him instantly. He was carried into the sick bay and examined by the surgeons, who found that his neck was broken, one of his arms and legs and his back horribly bruised. He was buried in the manner usual at sea — his body was put in clean linen, lashed up in his hammock, two shots^ on each side ; he was then carried to the gangway, and was laid on a wide smooth plank, with his feet to the leeward. Prayers were made by the Chaplain, in the usual church form; and when he came to the clause, "We now commit the body to the deep," two of his messmates raised the end of the plank, which launched his remains out of the lee gangway, into the great deep, there to remain until the sea 56 LIFE OF AN gives up her dead. Morse was a noble-hearted fellow, and well beloved by all his shipmates. May our shipmate so dear, in his coarse canvas bier, Rest securely beneath the rough billows ; For in youth he was nipt, and life's cable he slipped, And the coral rock now is his pillow. He was sprightly and gay, at the close of the day, But the next hour found him a wreck ; As he lay on the yard, being off of his guard, Was quickly transferred to the deck. Before he was cold, all his messmates so bold. With tears in their eyes had him drest n his trowsers so white, while o'er him that night Hung the " Union," the flag he loved best. At ten the next day, in his hammock he lay, To sleep in the mariner's bed. When they heard a loud bawl, and the boatswain's* hrill call Summoned all hands to bury the dead. When they came to the place, all hands wore addres,scs-man. 165 language^ — words which should be written in letters of gold, and pictures of silver, — " One of three things we must do in case of war : we either must conquer the enemy ; if overpowered, make our escape if possible, or sink by their side/' The Commodore then turned and addressed the men ; he said that he had been in several en- gagements, but never was conquered. The answer from the men was, that he never should l;e conquered while there was a spar standing, or men enough left on board to fight a gun. He then turned to the officers, and, pointing to the large flag waving at onr mast-head in peculiar luster, said, " That flag shall never be struck to the enemy while I have command of a ship." Monday night, at twelve o'clock, a sail was discovered just to the windward of the Ohio, and as rumors had reached us that eight line-of- battle-ships had been ordered by the English, to intercept our passage, the drums immediately beat to quarters. The men of the starboard watch at the time were in their hammocks ; at 166 " LIFE OF AN the first tap of the drum they sprang to the deck, lashed up and stowed their hammocks, put the grating over the hatches, cast loose their guns and run them out, lighted their matches, and double-shotted their guns, and the ship was hove to, in the space of eleven minutes ; but on speaking the sail before mentioned, she proved to be a Neapolitan line-of-battle-ship, instead of an English one, -as was suspected. This short time in preparing for action, may seem incredi- ble to some, but it even lacked a few seconds of the eleven minutes before stated. Tuesday, weather fine ; a number of sails in sight. April 1st, pleasant weather and dead calms. The Preble and Brandywine were on our star- board quarter. The Captain of the Preble came on board the Ohio. Forrest, sailing-master, was ordered on board the Preble, •and went in the fifth cutrer. On the fifth, there were strong head-winds, a number of sails were in sight. On the 6th, rough weather continued. At sunset the Commodore made a signal* to the Brandywine and Preble, for each to keep a blue light burning through the night, and to keep within signal distance. The commander of the Preble obeyed the order, but Captain Bolton the commander of the Brandywine, immediately af- ter night set in, escaped through the straits, and sailed for the United States, as was afterwards ascertained, and was subsequently tried by a Court Martial, for disobedience of orders, or cowardice, and, as I have since understood, was 168 LIFE OF AN condemned, cashiered and suspended. Wednes- day, the 7th, we laid off Malaga, waiting for the Preble, which sailed into the harbor to gain in- telligence from the American Consul respecting the supposed difficulties between the United States and G-reat Britain. She brought inform- ation from the Consul, at noon, of the contin- ued peace and amicable relations between the two countries, and we immediately tacked ship, and headed our course for Mahon, aniPthe fine strain of music, "Home, Sweet Home " which we heard the evening before, was changed to the spirit-stirring sounds of "Hail Columbia." The whole ship's company appeared highly dissatis- fied, as they all had expected that they were bound home, for many of the men's term o^ service had e;cpired. The crew were so much excited that the Commodore felt it his duty to address them, to prevent evil consequences. The whole ship's company were called on the quarter- deck, when the Commodore spoke to them sev- eral minutes in a firm and convincing style, and said he had business to transact at Mahon and ex-man-of-war's-man. 169 Toulon, and then pledged his word to them that he would sail for the United States in June or July. His remarks were listened to with mark- ed attention^ and served to allay the excitement. On Friday, April 9th, all hands were called to quarters, at six bells in the morning. The men of the starboard watch were below in their ham- mocks. In a few minutes all stowed their hammocks in their nettings, and were at their guns. The alarm was occasioned by a large ship to our windward, which proved to be a French man-of-war, bound to Algiers, with a regiment of soldiers on board. On Wednesday the weath- er was rough and stormy. We laid off Mahon, imtil Thursday, when we again made sail. On the 20th, we arrived in the harbor of Toulon, having been twenty-six days at sea since we sailed from Mahon. Owing to the rough sea and head-winds the ship made over one thousand miles in sailing from Mahon to Malaga, which in a direct line is less than ^we hundred miles. On the 20th, we fired several royal and national salutes, which were answered from the battery, 170. LIFE OF AN and from the French Admiral's flag-ship. His squadron consisted of three one hundred and twenty gun-ships, four seventy-fours, two frig- ates, and three sloops of war. The French ships were handsomely built, and some of them had been constructed within a few years. Their crews were a hale and hearty set of fellows, and they enjoyed many privileges not granted the seamen in the United States Navy. Our national legislature, in 1832, having an overflowing treasury, advanced the pay of mid- shipmen from twenty-five dollars a month to over forty — acting, in many cases, under motives dictated by personal interest, as some of them had sons in the navy ; and by advancing their pay they would not be obliged to transmit sums of money to them to support their prodigality and extravagance, and they preferred to have it drawn from our national treasury. Others had sons for whom they would procure midshipmen's warrants, so that they might spend a few years in foreign countries, they being at sea only a small portion of time — sailing in the summer ex-man-of-war's-man. 171 season in the beautiful and placid Pacific, or in the classic Mediterranean. All this was accom- plished, while the wages of hardy weather-beaten and fearless seamen, who peril life — sacrificing the pleasures and comforts of home — and who brave alike the tempest and the enemies of their country, were suff'ered to remain stationary, they receiving from ten to twelve dollars a jnonth, — and out of this pitiful sum, by a system of op- pression and fraud, was taken four or five dollars a month, for tea, sugar, pepper, mustard, soap, &c., termed small stores. It is a small business, truly, in the government, that the very food of the sailor is taken out of his own money. Would not the American people heartily ap- prove of a law doing away this miserable policy, which robs the seaman and fills the coffers of the rich ? It appears a very easy matter for Con- gress to raise the pay of one class of men to nearly double its former amount, while the j)ay of a more worthy and useful class of men — those they depend upon in peace to protect their com- merce, and in war to support the honor of their 172 LIFE OF AN flag^upon the ocean — should be allowed to re- main the same. So small is the compensation allowed them by law, and so large a share of this trifling sum falls into the hands of the pursers, that few good seamen feel willing to ship in the service ; and a short time since, two frigates, all fitted for sea, were detained several months, through the want of a crew to man them. At the same time there were over four hundred midshipmen on their rolls who were anxious to receive their orders for sea, and thousands from almost every State in the Union had petitioned for midshipmen's warrants, and their names were recorded upon the books, while these fine frigates were detained a long time for the want of a crew to man them — when, too, the public service ac- tually required them on their stations. While the Ohio was lying at Mahon the previous win- ter, the midshipmen contracted many debts on shore ; and when the ship was ordered to sea, under the expectation of war, the citizens of Mahon came on board our ship to receive their pay, when to their surprise and displeasure they ex-man-of-war's-man. 173 found several of these gentlemen of the w^tch unable to settle with them. Previous to these false and high-handed acts of fraud and mean- ness, while we were in the port of Trieste, two midshipmen smuggled liquor on board the ship. After they had remained drunk sometime, it was discovered. As they were sons of distinguished naval officers, their liberty was merely stopped for a short time. We shrink back with disgust from following those gentlemen of the watch through all these scenes, down to receiving their rations at the butcher's block, as necessity for once brings them down to the level of the com- mon seamen. on^iPTE-R. :k.:x:xx. May 1st, the sun arose amid the firing of guns and the roar of their thunder, it being the an- niversary of the birth of Louis Philippe, king of the French, and many were the demonstra- tions of respect and affection towards him. The French squadron, then lying in the harbor, con- sisted of seven line-of-battle-ships, three frigates, and several sloops of war. They were beauti- fully decorated with flags, and made a fine appearance. At nine in the morning, at noon, and at sundown, the whole squadron was in a perfect blaze of fire from their cannon, which echoed among the hills and valleys, — proclaim- ing to the people the fruits of their great revolu- tion of 1830, which placed upon the throne their king, amidst the approving plaudits of the na- tion. At noon the Ohio fired a salute, after which the Admiral's flag-ships run up to her mast-head the stars and stripes, and answered 176 LIFE OF AN the compliment. Commodore Hull dined with the Admiral, and at night the French squadron was beautifully illuminated, and thousands of rockets were fired from Toulon^ which burst in the skies with great brilliancy. A boat-race took place, which attracted much attention. Five boats belonging to the Admiral's flag-ship, started opposite the hospital. Great were the exertions, and great were the rejoicings of the boat's crew which won the prize. A beautiful gold medal, with the arms of France engraven on it, was presented by the Admiral. On Thursday morning, when ashore, I was struck with astonishment to witness the arbitra- ry and oppressive conduct of some of the Ohio's officers ; and when contrasting them with the liberal and gentlemanly bearing of those in the same stations in the French service, a feeling of disgust naturally arose in my mind against those men who, when at home, make great professions of equality, but who there, where they have no motive for deceiving, act out their true charac- ters ; and it is not strange that the rankest ad- ex-man-of-war's-man. 177 vocates of despotism blush at their hypocrisy and tyranny. I saw a French boat, whose crew were all convicts, go alongside the shore. The officers of the boat got out, and then told the convicts they could go on shore under charge of a sentinel. This was a common practice in Tou- lon. It soon commenced raining in torrents. The convicts went into a building near by, which secured them from the inclemency of the weath- er. But the officers of the boats belonging to the Ohio would not let their men go ashore. The coxswain remonstrated with the officers of the boat and begged permission to get out of the rain. — " No, d — n your eyes," was the reply, and they threatened to have him flogged for his insolence. The officers then went up to the city, and remained there until it cleared off, then went to their boats. I could not but compare the two cases. The late President, by his rec- ommendations and orders, effected much towards repressing cruel punishments on board the na- tional ships. If his orders were carried more into action by Commanders, they would have a lasting and beneficial influence. 178 LIFE OF AN • In giving a brief sketch of several cases of punishment which occurred on jDoard our ship, I will commence with the case of a seaman be- longing at that time in the after-guard, to show the wrongs and injuries men innocently suffer : He was at work in the after-part of the ship, and was stationed on the quarter-deck. He asked a messmate, in a low voice, for a chew of tobacco. The officer of the deck heard a noise, and seeing him receive some tobacco, at once supposed it was him, and reported him to the first lieuten- ant, who had him put in the brig, for insolence, disoliedience of orders, &c. A midshipman who was standing by and saw the transaction, when he went to the brig to put him under the sen- try's charge, told , him he had done nothing worthy of punishment, and that when all hands were called to witness punishment, he would speak in his behalf After remaining in the brig a few days, the prisoners were called up (in those days there were a goodly number), and when they came to this man on the list, he stepped out and said that he was falsely accused, and ex-man-of-war's-man. 179 could prove himself innocent by several men, and a midshipman in particular. "Never mind/' said the Captain, " I shall not give you but a few, as it would take longer to prove your inno- cence than to receive half a dozen/' and he ordered the boatswain's mate to go on. After he had received half a dozen with the cat-o'nine- tails on his bare back, he was cut loose by the quarter-master, and told to go to his duty. The next I shall relate was of a seaman be- longing to the waiste. He also was in the hab- it of chewing tobacco, and in attempting to spit into one of the spittoons, missed it and spit on the deck. A passed midshipman by the name of Lafayette Maynard, saw it, and immediately called the boatswain's mate, and ordered the man up to the breech of one of the guns. He then asked the boatswain's mate if he had his colt with him. The colt is another instrument for whipping — and is a tarred rope about four feet in length and five-eights of an inch in di- ameter. After the boatswain's mate had taken out his colt, the midshipman ordered him to go 180 LIFE OF AN on, and he gave the man a dozen, and then d — d his eyes, and told him if he ever spit upon deck again, that he would have him tried by a court- martial for disobedience of orders, and contempt for his superiors. His whipping was severe in the extreme, and in direct opposition to the laws of Congress, which says, that no man shall be flogged except under the direct eye and sanction of the Captain of the ship ; and that the Cap- tain shall keep a record of every man that is flogged, what he is flogged for, and the number of lashes he receives ; and this record to be kept for the inspection of the heads of government. Another case more aggravating took place: The Commodore's coxswain had been on liberty. To say he was a good man, would be unnecessary, for he had the confidence of the Commodore, by being his coxswain, and the Captain of the ship made him Captain of the foretop. This man, in the morning, was quite sober for a man who had enjoyed the pleasure and sport of a run on shore. Perhaps he felt a little merry. An officer working on the main-deck saw him and ordered several EX-MAN-OF-WAR'S-MAN. 181 experiments to be tried on him, commencing by giving bim several large doses of drugs of some description, and then commenced throwing water upon him from the pumps or engine. This man in a few moments fell to the deckhand those who stood around him supposed he was dead. They then carried him into the sick bay, and laid him on a cot. Medical aid was employed upon the man, when at this time his color began to change, and many supposed he was in a danger- ous situation. Several were seen walking in and out of the sick bay watching with fearful anx- iety his symptoms ; as he appeared to be in a dangerous condition, they were alarmed for their own safety, but the man in a few days recovered. What, I ask, would have been the result if the man had died ? If my impressions are correct, according to the civil law in the United States, when a quack gives poisonous medicine to a man, which causes his death, he is amenable for mur- der. Solomon said : " There is no new thine under the sun." If he had lived at that time, he would have found something new,— an officer 182 LIFE OF AN turning surgeon and giving drugs to a man for punishment. This certainly was a new thing under the sun, for an officer of the ship to usurp the duties alone assigned to the surgeon. In justice, none of these charges can be laid against Commodore Hull. He was a frank, open-heart- ed, and honest man, and for over four months he had command of the ship, from the time that Capt. Smith left her, until Captain Lavallette took his place. But once in the whole time were all hands called to witness punishment, and then all were let off, so trifling were their offenses in the eyes of the old Commodore ; not a man was flogged on board the ship while he had command of her in person ; and the men were ashamed to go to him with their foolish re- ports, as he would always hear both sides of the question, and he paid as much attention to the sailor in his rough garb, as to the officer decked in his costly tinsel. While Commodore Hull had command of the ship the men were better treated, and they performed their duties better, and there was more harmony and comfort on ex-man-of-war's-man. 183 board the ship, than ever before or since ; and every man on board the ship honored and re- spected him, and well he deserved to wear the honors bestowed upon him by the American people. May 4th, dispatches were received on board the Ohio, from the American Minister at Paris ; one of the dispatches contained the news of the lamented death of General Harrison, President of the United States. The Ohio displayed her flags at half-mast and fired minute guns through- out the day, and all the officers wore crape on their left arm in commemoration of the great national calamity. The French national ships then in port also displayed their flags at half- mast throughout the day, to show th^ir respect for the illustrious deceased. May 8th, all hands were called to unmoor ship and get under way. It was a beautiful morniug, and the sun shone in all its splendor upon the blue waters of the Mediterranean. As we bid adieu to our French friends in Toulon, a fine breeze sprung up, which soon wafted us clear of this beautiful port. A number of hours 186 LIFE OF AN previous to the Ohio's sailing, one of the French government steamers sailed for Mahon, carrying letters and dispatches from the Ohio's officers and crew to the citizens of Mahon, expecting she would arrive at Mahon several days before the Ohio ; and they were surprised when the Ohio passed her, but not more so than the Captain of the steamer was when he arrived at Mahon, to find the Ohio there and safely moored. Many of the passengers who came over in the steamer and visited the Ohio, spoke in high terms of praise of her beauty, symmetry, and sailing qualities. On the 14th, all hands were called aft to the quarter-deck, and were addressed by the Chaplain on the recent death of the President of the United States. His re- marks were appropriate and eloquent. At sun- down all hands were called to attend prayers. After the Chaplain had read a number of prayers suitable for the occasion, an old seaman observed, — and he was one whose remarks were entitled to attention, for he had been long in both battle and breeze — that we were sometimes called to ex-man-of-war's-man. 187 attend prayers and to muster on Sunday, but more frequently to see the lash applied to the backs of seamen for the very same misde- meanors that many of the officers are guilty of. Said he to me, ^' Is this the religion we have so eloquently preached to us ?" My answer was, " No ; for the whole system of religion is found- ed on truth, justice, and mercy ; and if the Gaptain should tell them, when all hands were called to witness punishment, and from twenty to sixty men before him, each waiting to receive his sentence : ^ Let him who is without sin cast the first stone ;' how many do you think, of these gentlemen who wear the large eagle button, would remain on deck to ^ cast the first stone ?'' On the 20th, at midnight, the drums beat to quarters, as it had been reported to the first lieutenant that several men had swam on shore ; but after mustering all the divisions, which usually takes but a few minutes, it was soon ascertained that all were present, and the first lieutenant ordered the drums to beat a retreat. I will here state that a number of the men 188 LIFE OF AN intended to swim ashore that night, but were prevented by hearing that the first lieutenant had learned of their intended excursion on shore ; they therefore concluded it was best to remain on board. On the evening of the 29th of May, a disgraceful scene took place on board the Ohio, between several midshipmen of the larboard steerage, and their black servant. It appears that the midshipmen were laboring un- der the influence of strong drink, which spreads itself like a ruinous contagion in the navy, con- taminating all within its reach. The midship- men commenced sky-larking with the poor, de- graded son of Africa, who was rather too strong and robust for these gentlemen, who wore the eagle buttons, when on a sudden the first lieu- tenant came down upon the deck. His keen, penetrating eye saw the afii-ay at the first glance^ and as soon as the midshipmen observed him coming towards them, they screamed out for the negro to go up the mast. What mean- ness and duplicity ! They followed him up, kicking and beating him over the decks and up ex-man-of-war's-man. 189 the ladder^. By this time several hundred men had collected on the main-deck to witness the shameful scene. As soon as he had got on the spar-deck, near the fife-rail, a noted place for all victims, one of the gentlemen of the watch who stood by him, reeling in brutal in- toxication, reported him to the officers of the deck, amid the laugh and hisses of the whole ship's company. The poor fellow mwas then confined in addition to receiving the treatment he had, which wis a gross outrage upon decency. All this was done to screen themselves, and shift the blame from their own shoulders to have it put upon the negro's back with the cat-o'nine-tails. The whole affair merited and received the contempt of all. On Sunday the weather was most delightful. All hands were dressed in white for the first time that spring, and they made a fine, neat, and uniform ap- pearance. They were inspected as usual on Sundays, by the Captain and first Lieutenant, after they had assembled at their quarters. Soon after, the drums beat a retreat, and in a 190 LIFE OF AN few minutes the boatswain called all hands to muster. As soon as they were arranged in the customary order, the Chaplain gave them a spirited and eloquent discourse. He gave a fine description of the mariner's life, and spoke of the dangers, trials and temptations attendant on the same ; also of the pleasure of a home- ward bound passage. He appeared to be much interested^n the welfare of the ship's company. I had every reason to think the Chaplain a Christian, as well as a perfect gentleman. The Chaplain had but just closed his able and elo- quent discourse, when a midshipman came off the orlop-deck in a state of brutal drunkenness. He used the most insulting language against several distinguished officers. What a humilia- ting example for an officer to set. If the whole ship's company had followed the example which was set by this young officer, what would be the natural or certain result of the case ? They would be confined in the brig, put in double irons and gagged, and when called before the Captain would receive a severe reprimand, be ex-man-of-war's-man. 191 stripped, and receive one dozen with the cats — a species of torture which would disgrace the Spanish Inquisition. The question has been asked by many, why so few native seamen are found in the naval service of the United States ? What American, who feels the noble impulse of freedom throbbing in his bosom, would ever consent to rivet the chains of slavery upon himself? The clanking of the chains which have been riveted on the few native seamen, who are found in naval service, has served to deter others from selling their birthright for a mess of pottage. On Saturday, the 7th of June, the soul-stir- ring words were passed fore and aft our deck : " All hands up anchor for the United States/* This order was cheerfully obeyed, and as the sun slowly descended below the horizon we sailed out of the harbor. All was animation and joy on board the ship. The band soon caught the spreading joy and gave us, in anima- ting strains, " Home, Sweet Home." June 21st, Kichard Burke, a native of Dresden, in the State of Maine, died after a long illness, at eleven o'clock in the evening as he was on the passage to his native land. He raised his head from his pillow to feel for the last time the breeze and to hear the surges of the sea which had often delighted his ears, but soon fell on his pillow and expired in that bright hope which is an anchor to the soul both sure and steadfast. The usual prayers were made by the Chaplain 194 LIFE OF AN in an able manner, when his remains were con- signed to the great deep. He was an able sea- man and much liked by his mess and shipmates, and all regretted his fate. The following lines were composed by one of the seamen, on his death : Poor Burke is gone — his thread is spun — He sleeps upon the coral bed, And there will rest, till the last trump Shall summon forth the ocean's dead. Though tempest roar along the main, And towering waves their fury pour. He sleeps secure beneath the foam. With thousands on the coral floor. And far away from his loved home, — Where nature first imparted breath, — There, on the ocean's stormy wild. He drank the bitter cup of death. No mother's voice was there to soothe The sorrow of the dying man ; Nor sister's hand to close his eyes, — But strangers from a foreign land. All worldly thoughts he did resign. His earthly friends he bid adieu ; He left his mother all his store, And died lamented by the crew. ex-man-of-wak's-man. 195 The cares of life he does not heed, And pain and sorrow he defies ; His soul has left this transient earth, For that bright world beyond the skies. ■ On Saturday, the 12th, we arrived at Gibral- tar. The American Consul, several Captains of American vessels, and a number of English offi- cers, both civil and military, visited the Ohio. We fired several salutes, also a royal salute of twenty-one guns, which compliment was answer- ed from the English battery, by the same num- ber. I will here state that, in the course of the voyage, I had collected together quite a number of curiosities, which I had bought in the different ports we had visited, and which I had stowed away in the hold oi^ the ship, intending them as presents for my friends in the United States ; but on going down one day to see them, I found to my surprise that they had been stolen. It is probable that they had been taken by some of the crew who had been discharged, as search was made, and they could not be found on board the ship. On Tuesday, all hands were called to up 196 LIFE OF AN anchor and make sail for the United States of America. It was expected the Hastings and Thunderer, two the finest English line-of- battle- ships in the British navy, would get under way at the same time, and give the Ohio a chance to have a race with them, but they wisely remain- ed at anchor. This was not the first time .the British lion had admitted the superior qualities of the ships of war which bear the stars and stripes. Every man was at his station, and the orders which were given for making sail were obeyed with promptness, and in a few minutes the far-famed rock of Gibraltar was left far astern. We had a fine breeze and sailed at the rate of ten knots an hour through the Straits. Homeward bound ! thou heaven-protected, Beauteous barque upon the deep ; May thy prow be well directed, May thy helmsman never Still and peaceful be the surges, — Clouds their torrents cease to pour Strong and sure the gale that urges To that blest and happy shore. ex-man-of-war's-man. 197 June 22d5 the cry from the mast-head was, " Sail ho !" Where away ? cried the officer of the deck. " Two points on the lee bow/' was the reply. The sail proved to be an American whaling barque, which was hove to, while her boat's crew were in pursuit of a whale which lay just ahead and in the direct course of the Ohio, which gave us a fair chance to see the sport. There were three boats' crews in pursuit of the whale. The nearest one to the whale contained the chief mate of the barque, who stood in the bows of the boat with his harpoon poised ready to strike. When he arrived within a few feet of the whale he struck him just back of the flukes, giving the order at the same time to back water, but they were not soon enough. No sooner had the order been given than the whale, raising his flukes, struck the boat a tremendous blow, which shattered her into a thousand pieces. The oth- er boats' crews coming up at this time, picked up the chief mate and crew. The whale, on striking the boat, sounded immediately, and on rising again spouted blood, which showed that 198 LIFE OF AN the harpoon had touched his life. After spout- ing and floundering half an hour, all was still. The boat's crew then came up and made fast to him and towed him alongside the barque ; after which he was cut in pieces and hoisted on board, the oil tried out in try-kettles which were set on deck, and then stowed away in the hold. July 10th, the ship was hove to on the Grand Banks, and the officers and crew had fine sport fishing. They caught quite a number of fine cod, which were equally distributed between the officers and ship's company. On the 16th, we sailed into Massachusetts Bay, fired a gun for a pilot, and, the fog being quite dense, laid to through the night. July 17th, we came to single anchor at the President's Roads, about six miles from Boston. As soon as we had come to anchor and the sails were furled, I went on deck and told the officer of the deck that I wished to go on shore. The officer told me to go to my duty ; I replied that I should not do any more duty on board the ship, as my term of service had expired the June previous, and that according to the laws of the ex-man-of-war's-man. 199 United States I considered myself a citizen. The officer then called for the master-at-arms, and gave orders to him to put me in double irons and have me secured in the brig for disobedience of orders and contempt for my superiors. I told the master-at-arms, that my term of service had expired, and that I was a citizen, and that if he laid his hands on me he would do it at the peril of his life. The Captain hearing a disturbance on deck, stepped from the cabin to ascertain the cause ; and after hearing the case, told the offi- cer of the deck that he was in the wrong ; then turning to me, he said, " As you have always performed all the duties assigned you with promptness, and with cheerfulness, you can now go on shore.'' I accordingly went on shore, and arrived in Boston about four o'clock the same afternoon. ' I landed at granite wliarf, where I met an older brother, who was on the lookout for me ; we both passed through the city over to Charles- town to visit a still older brother who resided at that place. I there found my mother, my old- est sister and niece, who had come from Win- chester, N. H., in the expectation of finding me there. It proved a very happy meeting for them, as they had not seen me for over three years. After spending the remainder of the afternoon at my brother's, and promising him that I would not go to sea again until I had visited my friends in the country, I returned to the city. The next day the Ohio went up in grand style, and anchored off May's wharf ; and as she passed the Columbus, which lay at an- chor in the stream, her band struck up " Hail Columbia," which was answered by the band of the Columbus with " Home, Sweet Home ; " 204 LIFE OF AN after which the rigging was manned and three cheers were given by the crew on board of the Ohioj which was answered by the crew of the Columbus^ at that time lying in the harbor as a receiving ship. The Ohio on this voyage had sailed a distance of 25,590 miles. On the 26th of July, between two and three hundred of the Ohio's crew, whose time of ser- vice had expired, met at the Mariners' Inn, where they chose myself and Watson as dele- gates to wait on the Commodore ; after which they formed a procession, and marched in com- pany with a band of music, through Elm and up Hanover streets, across Pemberton Hill into Tremont Street, and halted in front of the Albion House, when the band struck up " The Star Spangled Banner." Immediately after the band ceased playing, the Commodore's aid (passed Midshipman Parker) made his appear- ance and conducted the delegates to the Com- modore's room, where I stated in the name of the crew the state of their grievances, which were as follows : First, when they left the ship, ex-man-of-war's-man. 205 the Purser would not allow them any money ; and none of them had less than one hundred, and some had three or four hundred dollars due them. Secondly, they had been on shore ten days, and having no money had contracted debts, as they were charged double price by the landlords, or landsharks as they should be called. Thirdly, many of the crew belonged to distant parts of the country, and they wished him to use his influence with the Captain and Purser, that they might be paid off so as to be enabled to return to their respective homes. I then stated to the Commodore, in the name of the crew, that we had always honored, respected and obeyed him in all things and considered him our friend, and that we would solicit his advice in the matter. The Commodore said in reply, that he supposed they had been paid off ; and that he considered it an honor that they had waited upon him in the orderly manner they had that day done. He then gave his word that they should be paid off the next day. He accordingly sent an order on board the ship to 206 LIFE OF AN have them paid off, which order was obeyed on the next day. The delegates were then con- ducted by Parker to their ranks^ when the Commodore made his appearance, showing his respect for the crew bj- taking off his hat and saluting them, which was answered by three cheers from the crjew. The band then struck up " Yankee Doodle ;" after which they marched through Tremont, down Winter, through WashingtoUj State and Commercial Streets to the Mariners' Inn, where a halt was ordered and they then dispersed. It was a noble sight to see these hale, hearty seamen, dressed in their short blue jackets and trowsers, man-of- war-frocks, tarpaulin hats, pumps and white stockings ; and there never was an equal number of men marched through Boston streets in a more orderly manner than this portion of the Ohio's crew. On the 28th, I gave an invitation to four or five of my shipmates, belonging to other cities, to visit with me some of the most interesting places in the city and its vicinity. This invita- ex-man-of-war's-man. 207 tion was accepted by them, and we accordingly- visited Dorchester Heights, Cambridge Colleges, Lexington Battle-Field and Bunker Hill Mon- ument ; and after returning to the city we visited the State House, Museum and Theaters. August 1st, I went to work in Charles town at my trade, at which place I remained until the first of September. One evening in August, while in Charlestown, I went over to Boston to visit some friends, and as I was passing through S Street, the cry of murder reached my ear. I listened and found that it proceeded from a house situated at the end of a court leading from S Street. I tried the door but found it fast, and immediately burst it open, rushed into the sitting room, and was met by a man with a large carving knife, who immediately struck at me with it. I seized a chair and struck him to the floor. The cries for help still continued, and they seemed to proceed from a room adjoining, which I entered and there found a young lady struggling to free herself from the grasp of a villain. With one 208 LIFE OF AN blow of the fist I knocked the villain down and jumped over him, and taking the lady under my protection was about leaving the house when I was met by my first antagonist and a watchman who had been attracted thither by the noise. After hearing the truth of the matter, he sprung his rattle for the assistance of his brother-watchmen, who arrived in a few mo- ments and took charge of the man of the house, and then proceeded to the next room to take the other villain, but found he had recovered sufficiently to escape through the window. The young lady expressed her thanks and gratitude to me for my timely assistance, and stated that she belonged in M ^ — , New Hampshire, and that she arrived in Boston only the day* before and visited the Intelligence Office, where this man saw her and hired her to sew in his family. He then hired a carriage and took her to his residence, and introduced two young girls to her as his daughters. She stated that she had re- tired to rest about half past nine, and being very tired fell asleep immediately ; but was ex-man-of-war's-man. 209 shortly after awakened by the before mentioned villain entering into her room. The thought then struck her that sfte had been betrayed into a den of vice, and she tried hard to escape, but was grappled by the villain, when she cried for help and was rescued by my timely interference. I escorted the young lady to a respectable hotel, and when I was about to leave her she told me that she should leave the city the next morning, as she thought it safer to return to her country home than to remain in a city where there were such sinks of iniquity. The first day of September, 1841, 1 visited the city of Lowell, where I remained a week visiting many of the factories, and enjoying all the amusements of that place. On the 8th, I took the coach for Fitchburg, at which place I arrived about noon : and the following day took the coach for Winchester, where I arrived about nine o'clock in the evening in company with my brother-in- law, Mr. Temple, whom I had over- taken at Winchendon. I intended to return to Boston after paying a short visit to my friends in Winchester, but through the urgent entreat- ies of my mother and friends I was prevailed upon to spend the winter at that place. In March, 1842, I went to work at my trade for Gilman Morse and worked for him until May 7th, at w^hich time I married a girl by the name of Alony A. D. Green, from Eutland, Mass., af- ter an acquaintance of six weeks. I was at that 212 LIFE OF AN time in my twenty-sixth year, and my wife was in the sixteenth year of her age. She was a gay, artful and deceitful creature, but was quite good looking and rather attractive. This mar- riage was contracted on the impulse of the mo- ment, and in after-years it caused me many hours of bitter sorrow. I wiU relate the circum- stances of the marriage : On the morning of the 7th of May I invited Miss Green to ride with me to Brattleboro, Vt., having business to transact at that place ; this invitation she ac- cepted. We passed through Hinsdale to Ver- non and called at a public house, where we met Dr. Washburn, the Gretna Green high priest of that section of the country. As I. had previous- ly been slightly acquainted with him, the Doctor extended an invitation to us to call on his fam- ily, which we accepted ; and in the course of the visit we were united in the bonds of matrimony by the Doctor, neither of us hanng thought of the subject previous to our call on him. We then passed on to Brattleboro, and returned to Winchester on the 9th, where I settled and worked at my trade. ex-man-of-war's-man. 213 In June, 1843, I visited Rutland, Mass., in company with my wife, after wliich we went to the city of Worcester where we visited the Insane Hospital and other public buildings of any note, and then returned to Winchester. Nothing of importance happened until October 25th, 1844, when my wife left me. The two following weeks I heard nothing from her, neith- er did I know where she was ; but the third week she returned to live with me again. In the fall of 1845, my health being very poor, I relinquished the carpenter's business, and com- menced keeping a factory boarding-house in a place called Scotland, about one and three- fourth miles from Winchester village. In Jan- uary, 1846, the factory, which belonged to David Ball, of Winchester, and John D. Goodnow, of Boston, was entirely destroyed by fire, which circumstance threw me out of employment. The following spring I hired a house in the south part of the village of Winchester, directly op- posite Follett's hotel. On the 4th of July, 1846, there was a groat 214 LIFE OF AN celebration in Winchester, when I came very near being killed by a terrible accident, while loading a cannon which was being fired in re- sponse to the toasts delivered at the table by the master of the ceremonies. We had fired the piece so fast that it had become extremely hot, and while I was ramming the cartridge home, through the carelessness of the man who was thumbing the piece it exploded, and I was thrown directly in front of the piece into the river. I was immediately taken from the river and laid upon the ground, most of the company thinking me dead. There were a number of physicians present, some of whom pronounced life not extinct. I was then carried into the late Dr. Wheaton's yard. After the blood had been washed from my wounds, I was placed up- on a bed which was kindly furnished by the Doctor, on which I was carried to Mr. Temple's, where my wounds were examined by Drs. Alex- ander, Wheaton, Pierce and Holland. On examination it was found that my left arm was broken between the elbow and shoulder, and the ex-man-of-war's-man. 215 bones in my hand and wrist were most of them broken. My right arm was horribly mangled, and the little finger shot away. On examining my head it was found that my skull was cracked, my upper jaw broken, and nearly all my upper teeth knocked out or broken oiF. My face was filled with powder and splinters, which caused the loss of my eyesight. No one present thought I could ever recover. At the time of the accident, Mr. Temple was absent on his way to Boston. Mr. Willard, another brother-in-law, was absent at the time but returned the same afternoon. He had been absent from his family two or three weeks, who then resided at West Winchester, about two miles from Winchester center village. On arriving at the village he heard of the acci- dent, and proceeded immediately to Mr. Tem- ples, where he heard that I had been carried, and kindly remained "through the night, and the following day. Mr. Temple, on hearing of the accident, left his team and returned home, when a consultation was held by the physicians, which resulted in sending for the late Dr. Twitchell, of 216 LIFE OF AN Keene, who arrived Sunday morning with four assistants. After Dr. Twitchell had examined me he pronounced my wounds mortal, and said I could not possibly live six days. Previous to Dr. TwitchelFs arrival the resident doctors had concluded to amputate my arm, but Dr. Twitch- ell said it would be giving me unnecessary pain, as I could not live, and there was great danger of lockjaw, and also of fever and mortification. For the first eight days after I was hurt, I was attended by Drs. Alexander and Pierce, each visiting me twice a day. It required two hours at each visit for them to dress my wounds. The ninth day, about two o'clock in the afternoon, my nurse discovered that while laboring under a fit of derangement, I had torn the bandages from my left arm, and that it was bleeding pro- fusely. Assistance was immediately called in, and the physician sent for. When the Doctor arrived he pronounced Hfe extinct, but on close observation he perceived a slight beat of a pulse in the temple. He then proceeded to take up the veins and arteries, and again bandaged the arm, ex-man-of-wak's-man. 217 whicli stopped the bleeding, and after applying a few restoratives I revived. The following three weeks, Dr. Alexander attended me alone. Through the goodness of God, and the kindness and attention of my friends, my life was spared. In six weeks from the time I was hurt I walk- ed to my own home, about one hundred rods from Mr. Temple's. I will here state that in the course of the walk, there seemed a voice sounding in my ears : "The goodness of God in sparing your life should lead you to repentance." This struck me so forcibly, that on arriving at home I entered my closet, and prayed for the first time for years. After remaining sometime at my devotions, I felt as though a great burden had been removed from my heart, and that I could rely upon Jesus as my Saviour. The greater part of the time the following winter was spent in religious duties, such as attending meetings, having prayer meetings at my house, and conversing with Christians and others on the subject of religion. About a year from that time I joined the Congregational Church in Winchester. 218 LIFE OF AN In June, 1848, my wife's health being rather poor, the Doctor advised me to take a short jour- ney, and we accordingly visited my sister who resided in Springfield, Yt. On the night of the 23d of July, 1849, my wife again left me. So artful had been her maneuvering, that I had not the least idea of her elopement until the fol- lowing morning, when my niece, who was then residing with us, found on the table a letter ad- dressed to me, which stated that she had left me, and that too forever ; and that it would be useless for me to follow her, as she should be many miles distant before this letter was read to me. The next October I had an in- terview with her, which resulted in a divorce, obtained the following December. December, 1849, I visited my friends in Boston, Charles- town and Hadley. On the 24th of March, 1850, I married a young lady by the name of Hannah W. Longley, of Lowell, Mass. I was now much happier than I had been for jcavs. — Although I had lost my natural sight, I could discern my Saviour by the eye of faith. I will ex-man-of-war's-man. 219 here add, that my religious feelings were not caused by any excitement, as no minister had visited me, nor had the subject of religion been introduced by any one after I was wounded, until I mentioned it myself after my recovery. In November, 1851, I received an invitation to attend my mother's wedding, which ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Manson, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the residence of Mr. Willard, my brother-in law. My mother married at this time Mr. William Hewett, of Londonderry, Vt. There were present at the wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Willard and their family ; my oldest brother, James Gould, Esq., of Boston; Mr. Willard's father and mother, and myself and Avife. They were to leave the following morning for the home of Mr. Hewett. At the request of my mother I composed the following lines, which were sung after the ceremony : Dear mother, much do I approve Your marriage choice and second love ; With your new home, may yoii be blest, And with your husband there find rest. 220 LIFE OF AN Mucli happiness may you enjoy ; — But don't forget your poor blind boy ; Though you are going far away, Do not forget for him to pray. Your husband h.» will with you pray, At dawn and at the close of day ; Oh may those prayers to God arise, Then you will gain the heavenly prize. Then when a few short years are o'er, I'll meet you on fair Canaan's shore ; Yes, if we trust in Jesus' love. We'll meet in that bright world above. In June, 1842, I met with a great loss by the death of my oldest sister, the wife of L. S. Willard. She had always been kind and affec- tionate to me, I therefore felt her loss keenly. She was also a true hearted, kind, and affection- ate wife and mother. In 1862 I was again call- ed to mourn, for the loss of my mother. She died in Wilmington, Vt., at the residence of Mr. Temple, my brother-in-law. ex-man-of-war's-man. 221 THE REHEARSAL OF THE EX-MAN-OP-WAR' MAN'S LAST CRUISE. I've been a jolly sailor bold, My name is R. F. G.; When I was twenty-one years old, I shipped and went to sea ; I went on board a naval ship, The Ohio by name ; ^ Then all our moorings we did slip To cross the raging main. 'Twas eighteen hundred thirty-eight The Ohio set sail, And sailed for Gibraltar Strait In a cold north-west gale. We stopped at Gibraltar Rock, It looked warlike and bold ; For me they did their gates unlock. Their city to behold, I visited Toulon in France With many jolly tars, And there we had a merry dance Under our stripes and stars. Then Naples I did roam around. From thence on board did go ; I saw the Alps in the back ground. All covered o'er with snow. I saw the. land called Corsica, ' And I saw old Leghorn ; 222 LIFE OF AN Then in Genoa I did straj'', . Where Columbus was born. I saw Marseilles, and Lisbontown, And I was not alone ; We sailed the Bay of Biscay down, Then sailed to Port Mahon. We sailed from thence— cold was the air, — And at the break of day I saw the famous island where St. Paul was cast away ; I saw Elba, and old Trieste, And I have also seen The ancient capitol of Greece, King Otho and his Queen. Then Smyrna City I did search ; Then did my way pursue To the old ancient Christian Church, Its ruins I did view. To Patmos then I sailed away. And landed from a boat. Where St. John, all good people say. His Revelation wrote. I saw Palermo and her bay, And I saw old Corfu ; Then in Sardinia I did stray, With many of our crew, * I saw the coast of Africa — It filled my heart with pain To see the slaver bear away Iler swarthy sons in chains. ex-man-of-war's-man. 223 I saw Madeira and Fayal, But did not long there stay, For soon I heard the boatswain's call — " All hands get under way." Old Tenerijffe I then did view, Then Malaga in Spain ; I sailed then with as brave a crew As ever cruised the main. 'Twas eighteen hundred forty-one, In July, I came home ; I told my friends that I had done The ocean for to roam. I live now by the river side, But I am poor and blind ; The one I have now for a bride, She is both true and kind. I've got the Bible for my chart. And Jesus for my friend ; I'll from their precepts ne'er depart. Till all my woes shall end. Then when the voyage of life is o'er, I'll trust in Jesus' love, — He'll guide me to fair Canaan's shore, That happy port above. CONTAINING THE AFTER-RECORD OF THE MOST PROMINENT OFFICERS WHO WERE CONNECTED WITH THE OHIO, IN HER THREE-YEARS-CRUISE ON THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION. • Commodore Hull, our veteran commander, died in the year 1842, full of years and crowned with honor. The following lines were composed on Huirs fight with the Guerriere. In eighteen twelve, amid the strife, Hull fought for liberty and life ; Old Ironsides was the ship's name In which brave Hull then cruised the main. One day a frigate hove in sight ; Then with this frigate Hull did fight : An Englishman she proved to be, But br-Bve Hull sunk her in the sea. The English Captain went on board. And to brave Hull gave up his sword ; Hull cruised east, and then sailed west, With Captain Dacresfor his guest. 228 LIFE OF AN Captain Egbert F. Stockton, our senior or fighting captain, on his return to the United States, was promoted to the rank of Commodore, that being the highest rank in the naval service at that time. Soon after this he resigned his commission in the navy and was chosen Senator from his, native State, New Jersey, to represent that State in the Congress of the United States. He was the author of the bill abolishing whipping in the navy. He had seen the evil effects of this practice, — when a man was called up to the gangway to be whipped, and when all hands were called to witness the punishment, — and that it degraded the man to such an extent that it did him more harm than good. Commodore Stockton was an excellent officer, a perfect gen- tleman, a true patriot, and a good citizen. Captain Joseph Smith, our junior or sailing captain, owing to ill health on his return to the United States, was ordered by the Navy De- partment to fill various stations on shore : among the rest, head of the Navy Bureau at Washington. He has been promoted to the ex-man-of-war's-man. 229 rank of Rear Admiral. Midshipman Albert Smith, his oldest son, has done service to the country as commander of a blockading ship, and by taking many privateers in the course of the war for the Union. Joseph Smith, Jr., Admi- ral Smith's youngest son, it will be remembered by many of our readers, was the Lieutenant- Commander of the ill-fated sloop-of-war, Con- gress, which was sunk in Hampton Roads, by the iron-clad frigate Merrimack. Our Lieutenant- Commander Pendergrast, though a Southerner^ was true to his flag, his country, and the Union. He was a brave, bold and efficient officer, and did good service in the last war for the Union, and against the Rebell- ion, and was promoted to the rank of Commo- dore. Our second Lieutenant, Samuel Mercer, though a Virginian, was also true to his flag, his country and the Union. He was a good and efficient officer, and was well liked by his junior officers and crew. Our third Lieutenant, Sam- uel F. Dupont, on his return to the United States, filled various stations under the orders of 230 LIFE OF AN the Navy Department. He was the owner of the famous Dupont Powder Works at Wilming- ton^ Delaware. Though a Southerner he was also true to his flag and the Union. He was as noble-hearted and brave a commander as ever trod a ship's deck. For instance^ dear reader, look with me off the harbor of Beaufort, South Carolina. See the noble Dupont, giving his or- ders to his junior officers concerning the battle which is about to commence with those two forts, Walker and Beauregard, those formidable forts which command the harbor of Beaufort. Look again, dear reader, — what is that we see? It is the noble Wabash bearing the broad pennant of Admiral Dupont. See, he does not send his junior officers to battle with the enemy alone, but takes the lead and goes first into battle with his own noble ship. As he nears Fort Beaure- gard, see, he pours in a full broadside of shot and shell, as also do those ships in his rear that are following in the wake of the Wabash. By the time that the last of his floating batteries has discharged its last broadside at Fort Beau- 0» ex-man-of-war's-man. 231 regard, the noble Wabash has turned her course and is now pouring her broadside of shot and shell into Fort Walker. See also, Dupont, in his method of fighting, draws nearer to each fort, at each circling broadside which he pours into them. By this maneuver, the enemy's shot most of them pass harmlessly over Dupont's fleet. Look again, dear reader, what do we see now ? the rebel enemies of their country fleeing from those strong-holds, and the flag of our country waving from the ramparts where before floated the rattlesnake of South Carolina. Lieuts. Hitchcock and G-ainsvoort, with many of our junior officers, did good and efficient service to the country in the war for the Union. I would here remark that I think justice has not been done to our navy during or since this struo"- gle,— not through any desire of the press to do them injustice, but through their negligence in not placing correspondents on board naval ships, as well as in the army. The navy has been called upon to do the arduous duty of blockading the numerous ports between the Potomac and the 232 LIFE OF AN Kio Grande — arduous on account of their being exposed on a lee shore, and to storms on a dan- gerous coast ; to watch night and day to prevent blockade runners supplying the enemy with food, clothing, and munitions of war. They have also done good service on our rivers and lakes. We never have read of but very few desertions from the navy, for sailors are generally as bold, brave, and generous a set of men as the world contains. And now, dear reader, if I have interested you in the perusal of this simple but true tale, I am amply paid. The following lines are added, at the request of some of my personal friends : THE FALSE WIFE. In eighteen hundred forty-two A foolish thing I then did do ; I married Miss A. A. Green, And she proved false, as will be seen. I had not lived with her long, Before I found her in the wrong ; One Sunday night she ran away, And stayed three weeks, just to a day. ex-man-of-war's-man. 233 Then from a letter I did learn That unto me she would return ; If I her follies would forgive, She would return and with me live. To this I then did give consent, But soon I had cause to repent ; She was fleceitful, gay and bold, And half her follies I've not told, 'Twas while I lived v/ith this false wife, One day I nearly lost my life ; My life was spared, but I was blind, And then this woman proved unkind, In eighteen hundred forty-nine. She thought it would be very fine If from her husband she could roam,' — She'd try and find another home. She left me, and then changed her name. And unto her be all the shame ; Yet she may feel God's chastening rod. Before she's laid beneath the sod. . Before she does this life depart, May Jesus touch her hardened heart ; That heart it must to Christ be given, If she would dwell with him in heaven. 234 - LIFE OF AN HANNAH AND HER SAILOR-BOY. Hannali is a cliarmiug girl, Her fine hair in ringlets curls ; And love sparkles in her eye When her Sailor-Boy is nigh. Hannah has dark auburn hair, And her countenance is fair ; And her face, it "beams with joy When she sees her Sailor-Boy. Hannah is both true and kind, Though her Sailor-Boy is blind ; The gifts of God she shares with joy, With her poor blind Sailor-Boy. Hannah reads with great delight Her Holy Bible every night ; Then she prays and sings for joy, With her darling Sailor-Boy. LINES ON THE DEATH OF A SISTER'S INFANT SON. I saw a mother kiss her child, — The babe awoke and sweetly smiled ; That mother's heart was filled with joy, As she caressed her infant boy. Alas ! that mother's joy was brief, — That mother's joy was turned to grief ; Her babe lies in its narrow bed, It sleeps now with the silent dead. ex-man-of-war's-man. 235 I saw that mother yet again, That mother's heart was wrung with pain ; Oh ! may she give her heart to God, Then she can kiss his chastening rod. That mother is my sister dear, Oh may her heart from pain be clear ; Yes, may that heart to Christ be given. Then she will meet her babe in heaven. LINES TO LIZZIE A. Lizzie, think not of him lightly, Though a doctor he may be ; He is young and gay and sprightly. As most men that you will see. Lizzie, by his good profession He will gain both wealth and fame ; Has he to you made confession ? And will not you change your name ? Lizzie, is this all illusion? Does he not your heart demand ? Banish then all your confusion. And accept his proffered hand. Lizzie, it was my intention. When I did begin this rhyme. Somewhere in it marriage mention, But 'twill do another time. 236 LIFE OF AN THE WAY MISS C. W. WOULD LIKE TO BE MAR- RIED. I would be married in the night, And have the church well filled with light ; In purest white I would be dressed, And wear a diamond on my breast. Then at the altar I would stand, And take my lover by the hand ; I'd have the priest pronounce us one, — This is the way I'd have it done. I would be married in this way. Then, friends or foes, they could not say That any one received a slight. For I would have them all delight. Then with my husband I would roam Unto his bright and peaceful home ; I would enjoy all of love's charms, • As he embraced me in his arms. THE TINKER AND TAILORESS. In Winchester there lived a maid. And she had learned the tailor's trade ; Yes, she could make a coat and vest, And entertain Joe as her guest. This fair maid, she was often seen, I think her age was just nineteen ; Her form was tall, her face was fair. With bright blue eyes, and auburn hair. ex-man-of-war's-man. 237 This maid once lived on Miry Brook, But now she's caught by young Love's hook ; The one who's caught this pretty maid, "Works in a shop where pans are made. This man's namesake, I have been told, Was once into old Egypt sold ; But now he sells stove-pipe and pans, That he does make with his own hands. THE SLEIGH RIDE. Young Web one day went out to ride. With fair young Emma by his side ; — Five weeks ago last Saturday Off they went, with horse and sleigh ; They cleared the bridge at a single bound, And off they rode towards Brattletown. When Mary heard that they had gone, She thought that Web had used her wrong In taking Emma out to ride. For she had thought to be his bride ; With such sad thoughts, her eyes cast down. She sighed, and thought of Brattletown. Young Peter had but just gone down; As they passed through old Hinsdale town. He said the way Web's whip did crack — You'd thought Sir Luce was at his back ; But looking round, he no one found — Still on they rode to Brattletown. 238 LIFE OF AN When Sally did this story hear, Her heart was also filled with fear That Web might some way lose his life, Then she could never be his wife ; While feeling thus, the tears ran down, Till Web arrived from Brattletown. I'll say to all these maidens fair, Web's heart is free as mountain air ; If this does not your heart aches cure. Of one thing I am now quite sure : When next he rides, I'll bet a crown He'll take you all to Brattletown. THE LAST INTERVIEW. Down in the bay, our ship lay moored, With pennants flying in the wind, Wlien dark-eyed Lizzie came on board. Saying, — "Where shall I my true love find,- Tell me, ye seamen, tell me true If my dear Roland sails with you ?" Roland was high upon the yard. Tossed by the billows to and fro ; Soon as her well known voice he heard, He sighed, and cast his eyes below ; The ropes slipped quickly through his hands, And quick as thought by her he stands. ^ ex-man-of-war's-man. 239 He said, " dear Lizzie, lovely dear. My vows shall ever true remain ; Let me kiss off that falling tear, — We only part to meet again ;" The noblest seaman in the fleet Might envy him those kisses sweet, " Though duty calls me from thy arms, Let not my pretty Lizzie mourn ; Yet if I live, and free from harm, I will unto my love return ; In every clime, on every sea, My heart it shall prove true to thee." But scarce one year had passed and gone, When far from his dear native land, He heard that he was left alone, — For she had gone at God's command, To dwell in that bright world above^ Where all is pure celestial love. ERRATUM.— Page 46, third line— for " two Limdrcd and eighty," read two hundred and eigM. W61 4 .♦.Jf ^^^^^'^ .' 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